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ForumsGerman Shepherd Dog > recommendations for a book on training for schutzhund (7 replies)
recommendations for a book on training for schutzhund by mudrun on 15 May 2012 - 18:50 |
| I was wondering if anyone had any recommendations for a book on schutzhund training. For a beginner. We are not looking to train a dog to compete just look forward to working with our puppy and seeing what we are capable of teaching it. We had trained Labs in the past for hunt/field trials and just enjoyed working with our dogs. We used a book called Game Dog that went week by week what you should be doing with your dog. I'm wondering if there is anything similar on the market for schutzhund. Thank you! |
by yellowrose of Texas on 15 May 2012 - 21:21 |
| One I like and gave to all puppy buyers is THE Theory and Methods of Schutzhund by Susan Barwig and Stewart Hilliard YR |
yellowrose of Texas by Gusmanda on 15 May 2012 - 23:45 |
| I'd look up a schutzhund club nearby, you learn much quicker doing it hands on and watching others as some concepts are not always easy to grasp in writing. That said, a good on the topic that I enjoyed is Advanced Schutzhund by Ivan Balabanov |
Gusmanda by BoCRon on 16 May 2012 - 01:08 |
| Here's the list we give to new members to our club.
Schutzhund, Theory & Training Methods Susan Barwig and Stewart Hilliard
Training the Behavior - Tips, Techniques and Theory for the Working Dog Trainer Gary Patterson
Der Schutzhund Helmut Raiser (translated by Armin Winkler)
Training the Competitive Working Dog Tom Rose and Gary Patterson
Tracking - From the Beginning Gary Patterson
Tracking Dog - Theory and Methods Glen Johnson
Advanced Schutzhund
Karen Duet & Ivan Balabanov
Before and After Getting Your Puppy - The Positive Approach to Raising and Happy, Healthy and Well-Behaved Dog Ian Dunbar
This list is a good start, there are many other helpful books on all aspects of training, behavior and learning theory. The titles above should get your library started. |
BoCRon by LOVE THY SHEPHERD on 16 May 2012 - 01:58 |
Yes, books are great. but have you ever been to a club to actually watch, or go to a trial ? Schutzhund is unlike any other sport you do with your dog. It's not for everyone. Schutzhund is a sport, for dog and handler. You bond, train and hopefully title your dog. It takes a very long time of training to acquire a small feat. It's something you either like or don't care for at all. I absolutely LOVE Schutzhund, and my dogs love it too. IMO Schutzhund has to be done first hand. Books are for extra help, do and don'ts, and have alot of knowledge. It's alot of training, very time consuming. I like both show and workling lines, but have found you should have a WL dog to join a club or a very good SL dog. So many people have come and gone in the clubs, alot of people start and quit that's why good clubs are hard to find. The people that have been in a club for years are not forthcoming at the beginning bc they know that most people come a few times and quit. It's a 4 x a week training, driving many miles to go to a club. Getting up and training at 7:00 am for tracking, yes even in the rain and snow. You buy every ball on a rope, collars, leashes, toys etc. etc. etc. But you can't learn really just by watching bc every dog is different and the lil tricks you learn to deal with problems are just amazing to watch. Your dog will do something wrong and you repeat the exercise again, and something clicks in the dogs mind and he says " oh, now I get it " I wouldn't be doing anything else but Schutzhund ! |
LOVE THY SHEPHERD by momosgarage on 16 May 2012 - 15:26 |
In my experience in the USA training for hunt/field trials is more inviting to newbies and far easier to test the waters without much background. It also seems like a more organized sport in general with less internal organizational conflict. I highly recommend that YOU DO NOT EXPECT or have any ASSUMPTIONS about the schutzhund training environment based on your past experience.
Buy the Barwig and Balabanov books, read them cover to cover. Hire a private trainer that can get you started in understanding the sport, training with that person at least twice a week for a year. If you still like the idea after that, at the end of the year go to a schutzhund club the trainer recommends and see what happens. The problem with going to a schutzhund club right off the bat is that they are filled with people who have a ton superstitious beliefs about newbies. If you head off to a club first, you'll go a few times and pretty much never want to go back, without having learned much of anything. Many things can be learned in half or less the amount of time with intense one-on-one training with a professional who knows schutzhund. |
by mudrun on 17 May 2012 - 15:54 |
| Thanks for all the great info!! Definately not looking at joining any clubs just looking for ideas for having fun in the yard. I think I'll start with the books on raising the puppy first just to make sure I don't make any training errors in raising a confident puppy!! |
by judron55 on 17 May 2012 - 16:29 |
| I believe Gary Patterson and shelia Booth wrote a good beginners book.... |
judron55
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